Santos rears back as if to slap her too and involuntarily, my hands go around his arm.
He stills, his eyes boring into mine before they fly to my hands on his arm.
He practically hisses at me, disbelief etched on his face as it battles with the anger simmering behind eyes that look just like mine.
“What do you think you’re doing, Alessandria? This––this woman insulted your mother.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care. Right now, all I care about is knowing the whole story.”
I’m angry at him.
So fucking angry.
I want nothing more than to not see him for the rest of my life, but I know that’s not an option.
“How about you answer my questions this time? Tell me everything.”
With a crook of his eyebrow, he begins to calm down as he turns his attention to me.
He barely spares Aunt Patty a cursory glance before letting her go.
She falls to the floor next to Penny and their arms go around each other.
Santos wipes his hand on his trousers before flicking a glance at Villegas.
He waves a hand toward the sobbing women and snaps his fingers, and before I could even blink, Villegas pulls a gun out and points it straight at them.
I swallow my gasp, afraid that any reaction from me will spur him on.
I fight to remain impassive when all I want to do is get between them and the gun.
I share a look with Noah.
He shakes his head once and his message is clear.
Don’t do anything Ria. Don’t provoke him.
“Very well, Alessandria.”
Santos takes his suit jacket off, hanging it on the chair recently vacated by one of the drug packers.
He rolls his sleeves up and for a man presumably in his fifties, he’s pretty fit.
He’s got tattoos peeking out from under the sleeves and I notice the same tag that was on CJ’s arm.
I attempt to take a discreet step backward closer to Noah and farther from my estranged father, but he notices.
He cracks his neck and his jaw clenches as his eyes meet mine again.
“Before I begin, just remember, daughter, I came here for a reason. I intend to leave here with you in tow. It’s time to come home where you belong. So, get that notion that you’re somehow leaving with this man out of your head.”
Jutting my chin, I match his stance.
I'm ignoring his calling Noah "this man" when he knows that Noah is my husband. I let my anger be my armor.
“Stop avoiding my questions and answer them.”
Another chuckle passes his lips, a real smile actually ghosting his face this time.